You have to be a bit of a liar to tell a story the right way.

When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.

I always read. You know how sharks have to keep swimming or they die? I’m like that. If I stop reading, I die.

I believe a writer's most important skill lies in being able to see things from different perspectives.

All stories are true," Skarpi said. "But this one really happened, if that's what you mean.

Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes.

Reading can almost be viewed as empathy training. Movies have better action scenes, sure. But books are uniquely suited to showing you the inside of another person's head. That is the root of empathy. That's the first step to understanding you're not alone in the world.